tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55513068186119627822014-10-01T23:03:25.473-07:00Laces or SpacesA Detroit Lions focused NFL blog.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-21493245137162183922013-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:002013-03-22T12:55:31.031-07:00Where are the best players drafted?There is no clear cut answer for the Detroit Lions' first round pick in the upcoming 2013 NFL draft. Guys like Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, Chance Warmack, DeMarcus Milliner, Dion Jordan, and Ezekiel Ansah are all possibilities. They could even look to offensive playmakers like Cordarelle Patterson or Tavon Austin. </br></br>When deciding who to go for in the first round the Lions' will be looking at what they can get in later rounds and where the talent level drops off. For instance, while Alabama Guard Chance Warmack is a fantastic prospect, there are other guards that are also great prospects that will be available in the second and third rounds. Not to mention that the guard position is often devalued in the draft (remember David DeCastro in 2012?) so some great prospects could fall to later rounds. </br></br>Here is a look at the top ten players* in 2012 of positions that the Detroit Lions could potentially be looking at with the fifth overall pick of the 2013 NFL draft: </br></br> <table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Guards</th></tr><tr><td><b>Name</b></td><td><b>Round</b></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Evan Mathis</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Marshal Yanda</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Alex Boone</td><td>UDFA</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Moore</td><td>UDFA</td></tr><tr><td>Mike Iupati</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Josh Sitton</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Ben Grubbs</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Jahari Evans</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Andy Levitre</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Jon Asamoah</td><td>3</td></tr></tbody></table> </br></br> There are only two first round picks in the top ten guards of 2012 and only two more in the top thirty (Note: Lions' starting left guard Rob Sims was ranked 11th and was a fourth round pick.). </br></br> <table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">4-3 Defensive Ends</th></tr><tr><td><b>Name</b></td><td><b>Round</b></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Cameron Wake</td><td>UDFA</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Graham</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Jason Pierre-Paul</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Derrick Morgan</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>John Abraham</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Greg Hardy</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Bennett</td><td>UDFA</td></tr><tr><td>Charles Johnson</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Carlos Dunlap</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Lamarr Houston</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table> </br></br> Less than half of the NFL's top ten 4-3 defensive ends were drafted in the first round (Note: the next five players on the list contain two UDFA's, a third round, and two fourth round picks). </br></br> <table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Cronerbacks</th></tr><tr><td><b>Name</b></td><td><b>Round</b></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Antoine Winfield</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Richard Sherman</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Casey Heyward</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Charles Tillman</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Harris Jr</td><td>UDFA</td></tr><tr><td>Jason McCourty</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Flowers</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Devin McCourty</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Tim Jennings</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Champ Bailey</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table> </br></br>Early round picks seem to be well spent on the Cornerback position with only three of the top ten players being selected in later rounds (Note: Chris Houston was ranked 23rd and was originally a second round pick. The Lions traded a sixth round pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Houston.). </br></br> <table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Offensive Tackles</th></tr><tr><td><b>Name</b></td><td><b>Round</b></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Joe Staley</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Duane Brown</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Roos</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Ryan Clady</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Andre Smith</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Joe Thomas</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>D'Brickshaw Ferguson</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Gosder Cherilus</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Andrew Whitworth</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Anthony Davis</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table> </br></br> The top ten Tackles from 2012 are mostly first round picks. This could be either from a greater ability to scout Tackles or the amount of emphasis teams put on the position. Luckily for the Lions they already have a first round pick on their roster and have the ability to add another in the upcoming draft. </br></br> <table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Wide Receivers</th></tr><tr><td><b>Name</b></td><td><b>Round</b></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Andre Johnson</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Demaryius Thomas</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Reggie Wayne</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Calvin Johnson</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Vincent Jackson</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Roddy White</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Crabtree</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>AJ Green</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Marshall</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Percy Harvin</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table> </br></br> Detroit Lions fans won't want to hear this but Wide Receiver is definitely in play for their first round pick, especially if they can trade back a few spots with someone trying to snag a QB. Cordarelle Patterson and Tavon Austin are two guys the Lions could target who would add another dynamic to the offense. I imagine Joeckel, Fisher, and Lane Johnson are higher on the Lions' board, but imagine Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush and Tavon Austin on the field at the same time. Yikes. </br></br></br><hr>*Top players according to ProFootballFocus.com. </br></br>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-72298810213329330822013-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T06:00:12.229-08:00A Guess at the Detroit Lions 2013 Roster: Offense<div>I went over the cap by a few million counting <a href="http://www.lacesorspaces.com/2013/02/a-guess-at-detroit-lions-2013-roster.html">the defense as well</a>, but as we all know there are ways to get under the cap if you aren't too far off. I also didn't use all of the draft picks or fill all of the roster spots so I'll rework the whole roster over the next few days.<br /><br />Here's what I think (hope) the Lions' offense looks like in 2013:<br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Offensive Total Cost for 2013: ~$69.5 million</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Quarterback </b>(2013: ~$17.5 mil)</div><div><br /></div><div>Matthew Stafford (Extend contract, 6 years $80 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Shaun Hill (Signed through 2013, 2 years $5.5 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Kellen Moore (Signed through 2014, 3 years $1.44 million)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>Offensive Line</b> (2013: ~$18 mil)<br /><div><br /></div><div>Riley Reiff (Signed through 2015, 4 years $8 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Rob Sims (Signed through 2015, 5 years $8 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Dominic Raiola (Signed through 2013, 5 years 23.4 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Bill Nagy (Signed through 2014, 4 years $2 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Gosder Cherilus (Re-Sign, 5 years $25 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Jason Fox (Tender at original round, $1.3 million)</div><div><br /></div><div>Geoff Schwartz (Sign, 2 years $2.5 million)</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Tight End</b> (2013: &nbsp;~$6.5 mil)</div><div><br /></div><div>Brandon Pettigrew (Signed through 2013, 5 year $14.6 million)<br /><br />Tony Scheffler (Signed through 2013, 4 year $8.2 million)</div><div><br />Michael Williams (Draft 4th round compensatory pick, 4 years $2.5 million)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wide Receiver </b>(2013: ~$22 mil)<br /><b><br /></b></div><div>Calvin Johnson (Signed through 2019, 8 years $150 million)<br /><br />Brian Hartline (Sign, 3 years $15 million)<br /><br />Nate Burleson (Restructure/Extend Contract, 4 years $10 million)<br /><br />Ryan Broyles (Signed through 2015, 4 years $2.68 million)<br /><br />Marquise Goodwin (Draft 3rd Round, 4 years $2.75 million)<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><b>Running Back </b>(2013: ~ $5.5 million)</div><div><br />Reggie Bush (Sign, 3 years $9 million)<br /><br />Mikel LeShoure (Signed through 2014, 4 years $3 million)<br /><br />Joique Bell (ERFA, $450,000)<br /><br />Christine Michael (Draft 5th round, 4 years $2.25 million)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-65436520682364081612013-02-05T12:01:00.000-08:002013-02-06T07:19:29.318-08:00A Guess at the Detroit Lions 2013 Roster: DefenseWe're still a long ways off from knowing what the Detroit Lions 2013 roster is going to look like, but here's a guess at what the defense will look like along with possible contract numbers.<br /><b><br /></b>(<a href="http://www.lacesorspaces.com/2013/02/a-guess-at-detroit-lions-2013-roster_6.html">Here's the offense's roster.</a>)<br /><b><br /></b><b>Defensive Total Cost for 2013: </b>~56 million<br /><b><br /></b><b>Defensive Tackle</b> (2013: ~$20 mil)<br /><br />Ndamukong Suh (Signed through 2015, 5 years $60 million)<br /><br />Nick Fairley (Signed through 2014, 4 years $10 million)<br /><br />Sammie Lee Hill (Re-Sign, 2 years $3.5 million)<br /><br />Glenn Dorsey (Sign, 1 year $3 million)<br /><br /><br /><b>Defensive End</b> (2013: ~$7 mil)<br /><br />Lawrence Jackson (Re-sign, 4 years $8 million)<br /><br />Bjoern Werner (Draft 1st round, 4 years $20 million)<br /><br />Willie Young (Second Round Tender, $2.02 million)<br /><br />Ronnell Lewis (Signed through 2016, 4 year $2.5 million)<br /><br /><br /><b>Linebacker </b>(2013: ~8.5 mil)<br /><br />Stephen Tulloch (Signed through 2016, 5 years $25.5 million)<br /><br />Justin Durant (Re-Sign, 3 years $6 million)<br /><br />Tahir Whitehead (Signed through 2015, 4 years $2.3 million)<br /><br />Ashlee Palmer (Signed through 2014, 2 year $3.25 million)<br /><br />Travis Lewis (Signed through 2015, 4 years $2.15 million)<br /><br /><br /><b>Cornerback </b>(2013: ~14.5 million)<br /><br />Chris Houston (Re-Sign, 3 years $18 million)<br /><br />Leodis McKelvin (Sign, 2 years, $6 million)<br /><br />Bill Bentley (Signed through 2015, 4 years $2.7 million)<br /><br />Jonte Green (Signed through 2015, 4 years $2.2 million)<br /><br />Chris Greenwood (Signed through 2015, 4 years, $2.2 million)<br /><br />Conroy Black (Signed through 2014, 2 years $900,000)<br /><br /><br /><b>Safety </b>(2013: ~$6 million )<br /><br />Louis Delmas (Re-Sign, 1 year $2.5 million)<br /><br />Amari Spievey (Tender at original round, $1.3 million)<br /><br />Jonathan Cyprien (Draft 2nd round, 4 years $4 million)<br /><br />Ricardo Silva (ERFA; Re-sign, $450,000)<br /><br />Tyrell Johnson (Signed through 2013, $715,000)<br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-51592796456374281232013-02-01T08:01:00.001-08:002013-02-01T08:12:23.520-08:00Detroit Lions 2013 Free Agents2013 Free Agents:<br /><br />Corey Williams DT<br />Gosder Cherilus OT<br />Lawrence Jackson DE<br />Cliff Avril DE<br />Jason Hanson K<br />Chris Houston CB<br />Louis Delmas S<br />Justin Durant LB<br />Dylan Gandy G/C<br />DeAndre Levy LB<br />Stefan Logan RB/WR/KR<br />Jason Fox OT<br />Jacob Lacey CB<br />Willie Young DE<br />Sammie Lee Hill DT<br />Corey Hilliard OT<br />Joique Bell RB<br /><strike>Don Carey&nbsp;S</strike> (signed one-year&nbsp;extension)<br />Nick Harris P<br />Will Heller TE<br />Kevin Smith RB<br />Pat Lee CB<br />Ricardo Silva S<br /><strike>Ashlee Palmer LB</strike> (signed two-year extension)<br /><br />2014 Free Agents (prime candidates for release):<br /><br />Kyle Vanden Bosch DE<br />Dominic Raiola C<br />Stephen Peterman G<br />Brandon Pettigrew TE<br />Shaun Hill QB<br />Jeff Backus OT<br />Drayton Florence CB<br />John Wendling S<br />Brian Robiskie WR<br /><br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-72884541686741074842013-01-31T09:40:00.003-08:002013-01-31T13:34:04.598-08:00Will the Detroit Lions Trade Down in the 2013 NFL Draft?While it's highly likely that the Lions stay put at the number five overall pick in the upcoming draft, it's still fun to look at the possibilities of them trading down to acquire some extra picks.<br /><br />This year's crop of quarterbacks leave much to be desired as none are projected as top-10 picks and few are projected first round picks. As we have seen in the past though teams will "reach" for quarterbacks, especially when drafting early in the first round. This is frowned upon by fans and analysts alike, but the hard truth is a team's quarterback largely dictates how the team will fare as a whole.<br /><br />While there may not be a Luck or RG3 this year, if a team sees a guy that will help them win they shouldn't get to hung up on where they are drafting him. Nearly every team drafting in the top 10 will be looking for a quarterback at some point in the draft and if they see someone they like enough they could pull the trigger in the first round.<br /><br />As it pertains to the Lions the teams drafting sixth through ninth could be potential partners to trade back as they all will be looking for a quarterback and Detroit most certainly will not (at least not before the 6th or 7th round). This will also largely depend on Kansas City, Jacksonville, Oakland and&nbsp;Philadelphia not selecting quarterbacks, but there are some seriously talented players they would have to pass in order to reach for a QB (which would also benefit the Lions).<br /><br />Let's take a look at Detroit's potential trade partners:<br /><br /><b>Picking 6th: The Cleveland Browns.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>What they would have to give up:&nbsp;</b>1st, 4th and possibly 7th round picks, Lions send their 1st. <br /><br /><b>Why they would want to trade up:</b><br /><b><br /></b>Brandon Weeden wasn't very good in 2012. He has potential and he improved as the year went on, but the new front office will want to bring in competition. The Browns actually have a pretty good team outside of the quarterback position with a solid defense and young talent at the skill positions. They could see a quarterback that puts their team in &nbsp;contention and would want to make sure no one else trades up in front of them and snags him.<br /><br /><b>Picking 7th: The Arizona Cardinals</b><br /><br /><b>What they would have to give up:</b> 1st and 3rd round picks, Lions send their 1st and 5th.<br /><br /><b>Why they would want to trade up:</b><br /><br />The cardinals are legitimately a few pieces away from being perennial playoff contenders. Their biggest need is a QB, but they also need offensive line help. If they can get someone to even somewhat competently play the QB spot they will be competitive. Even if there isn't a QB they are interested in, if Joeckel comes off the board early they may want to trade up to snag Fisher.<br /><br /><b>Picking 8th: The Buffalo Bills</b><br /><br /><b>What they would have to give up:</b> 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks., Lions send their 1st. <br /><br /><b>Why they would want to trade up:</b><br /><br />I think the Bills are the least likely trade partners in this scenario as their offensive is predicated on their run game so they could really afford to either stick with Fitzpatrick or wait until a later round to draft a QB. There will be enough talent left on the board at this spot that they can't really justify spending three picks on one player, but with a new staff anything's possible.<br /><br /><b>Picking 9th:</b> The New York Jets<br /><br /><b>What they would have to give up:</b> 1st, 2nd, and 4th round picks, Lions send their 1st and 3rd.<br /><br /><b>Why they would want to trade up:&nbsp;</b><br /><br />There's a new GM in town, but Rex is going to be desperate to keep his job and he isn't going to do that with Sanchez at the helm. They likely won't give up that much for a QB, but it may be worth it to them to only be losing a 2nd and 4th round pick in order to stabilize their team.<br /><br />What could make things really interesting is if Revis gets added to the mix. I've seen the Lions' lack of cap space mentioned, but Revis's numbers are not too far off of what the Lions have been paying Chris Houston (though Revis's cap number of $9 million in 2013 is somewhat prohibitive). Maybe the Jets would take the Lions' first and third round picks for their first and Revis. We can dream right?<br /><br /><br />Obviously things can and probably will get much more complicated on draft day, but this at least a glimpse of the possibilities the Lions have of trading down in the 2013 NFL draft.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-37033426632662098832013-01-22T17:00:00.000-08:002013-01-22T17:00:04.067-08:00Detroit Lions 2013 Offensive Line<b>Left Tackle // Jeff Backus</b><br /><br />For the first time since 2001 it looks like the Lions are actually going to make a change at left tackle. The question is: Who is iron-man Jeff Backus going to hand the reigns off to? Or can he fight off the young bloods for one more season?<br /><br />Second-year tackle Riley Reiff out of Iowa showed well last season as a part-time player mostly playing as a run-blocking tight end. Reiff got one start when Backus was held out of a game for the first time in his career. &nbsp;Jason Fox, the fourth year man out of Miami, is also waiting for his chance and judging by <a href="http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Jason-Fox-ready-to-take-the-next-step-in-development-with-injury-woes-behind-him/7bf4e233-ffd4-4fae-971b-099cfbdfa107">Jim Schwartz's remarks</a> seems to be in the mix. Corey Hilliard is another possibility, but he seems better suited to the back-up swing tackle role.<br /><br />Another possibility is the Lions using their first round draft pick on a tackle. Texas A&amp;M product Luke Joeckel is widely&nbsp;regarded&nbsp;as this year's top draft prospect and Eric Fisher out of Central Michigan has already been getting rave reviews during Senior Bowl week. It's hard to imagine them not selecting a pass rusher, but with a lack of quality quarterbacks in this draft quality lineman will be the first to go.<br /><br /><b>Possibilities: Jeff Backus, Riley Reiff, Jason Fox, Corey Hilliard, Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher.&nbsp;</b><br /><b>Most Likely: Riley Reiff</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Left Guard // Rob Sims</b><br /><br />Rob Sims was the Lions' best all around lineman in 2012 winning the Erik Andolsek award. He won't be going anywhere barring some strange turn of events. Sims took a few snaps at center during the off-season, but that was just a drill in case of emergency.<br /><br /><b>Possibilities: Rob Sims, Bill Nagy, Dylan Gandy</b><br /><b>Most Likely: Rob Sims</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Center // Dominic Raiola&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Raiola played pretty well in 2012 grading out positively in pass blocking, run blocking, and screen blocking according to <a href="http://profootballfocus.com/">ProFootballFocus.com</a>. The major concern is it looks like he started to fade down the stretch as he struggled the last five weeks of the season, mainly in run blocking.<br /><br />The 34 year old center is also owed over $4 million dollars in salary. That's a lot of money to commit to an aging lineman. The problem is they don't currently have anyone on the roster that could seriously push Raiola for his job. If they wanted to make a change they would have to bring someone in either through free agency or the draft. Barret Jones out of Alabama or Travis Frederick out of Wisconsin are two draft possibilities.<br /><br />If the Lions can't bring anyone in they could do much worse than Raiola provided he can at least maintain his level of play.<br /><br /><b>Possibilities: Dominic Raiola, Dylan Gandy, Barrett Jones, Travis Frederick.</b><br /><b>Most Likely: Dominic Raiola&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Right Guard // Stephen Peterman</b><br /><br />Peterman is owed over $3 million in salary and bonuses in 2013. He was <a href="http://profootballfocus.com/">ProFootballFocus.com</a>'s 38th ranked guard which is middle of the pack. The real problem is he was really inconsistent. Games where he pass blocked well he struggled in the run game and when he got the run game going he struggled protecting the quarterback. Similar to Raiola the Lions could do worse than Peterman, but I think he is most likely done in Detroit.<br /><br />Mayhew snagged 2011 seventh round draft pick Bill Nagy out of Wisconsin off of waivers from Dallas in August and there have been whispers that he is expected to take over for Peterman. While that's a possibility, he is going to have to show vast improvement over his short rookie season where he really struggled with the Cowboys.<br /><br />If the Lions look to the draft Barrett Jones and Travis Frederick are again possibilities who could start at guard and kick in to center when Raiola ends his career in Detroit. Another possibility is Larry Warford out of Kentucky who could be a steal in the second round.<br /><br />Another possibility is Jason Fox kicking inside to guard, which I think is the most likely solution. The big concern there would be his injury history, but they would have Nagy on the bench just in case.<br /><br /><b>Possibilities: Stephen Peterman, Bill Nagy, Barrett Jones, Travis Frederick, Larry Warford, Jason Fox</b><br /><b>Most Likely: Jason Fox</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Right Tackle // Gosder Cherilus</b><br /><b><br /></b>If cap space wasn't such a big issue in Detroit there would be no question that the Lions would be offering Cherilus a lucrative contract. Cherilus was ProFootballFocus.com's 7th best graded tackle (2nd best right tackle) and earned their highest grade in pass blocking. Detroit suffered through the years of Cherilus trying to put it all together and he finally got it in 2012.Even more encouraging is the fact that Cherilus got better as the season went on. Unfortunately, cap space is a problem so the Lions may be forced to go in another direction.<br /><br />Jason Fox, Riley Reiff and Corey Hilliard are all possibilities depending on what plays out in other spots along the line. Then there's always the possibility of drafting one of the premier tackles or Barrett Jones and letting them start out their careers on the right side of the line. I think the Lions get something done with Cherilus though and keep their blossoming talent in Detroit.<br /><br /><b>Possibilities: Gosder Cherilus,</b>&nbsp;<b>Riley Reiff, Jason Fox, Corey Hilliard, Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, Barrett Jones</b><br /><b>Most Likely: Gosder Cherilus</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>My January prediction for the Lions 2013 offensive line:</b><br /><br /><b>Reiff / Sims / Raiola / Fox / Cherilus</b>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-36455455505033921932013-01-21T15:32:00.000-08:002013-01-21T15:47:51.901-08:00Potential Draft Targets for the Detroit Lions (Pre-Combine)<br /><b>Bjoern Werner DE, Florida State, 6'4" 255</b><br /><br />Werner is at the top of several big boards and rightfully so. He is an absolute beast and would be exactly the right person to take over Kyle Vanden Bosch's spot on the roster.<br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>Damontre Moore DE, Texas A&amp;M, 6'4" 250</b><br /><br />Moore is a very productive pass rusher, but needs to put on some size to play in the NFL. A strong candidate for the Lions' first round pick, Moore may not be a big contributor right of out the gate, but would be a very strong long term pick.<br /><br /><b>Ezekiel Ansah DE, BYU, 6'6" 270</b><br /><br />Ansah has some work to do, but his ceiling is extremely high. A strong combine would put him into top-10 territory. There are some concerns about Ansah because he is so raw which could possibly push his draft stock down, in which case the Lions would be wise to snagging them with their 2nd round pick even if it means trading up.<br /><br /><b>&nbsp;Tavon Austin WR, West Virginia, 5'9" 176</b><br /><br />A speedster Harvin/Cobb type that could give the Lions back what they have been missing without Best. Austin's size will definitely be a concern, but he was a major play-maker in college.<br /><br /><b>Xavier Rhodes CB, Florida State, 6'2" 215</b><br /><br />Rhodes is a solid prospect who can cover well, plays in man or zone, and is very physical at the line of scrimmage. He likely won't make it out of the first round, but he would be a solid addition to the Lions defensive backfield&nbsp;(possibly their number one corner).<br /><br /><b>Travis Frederick C, Wisconsin, 6'4" 338</b><br /><br />Frederick isn't a lock to be a starter in the NFL and probably projects &nbsp;more as a guard, but he offers versatility which is something that the Lions value and he certainly has the size to be an NFL lineman. <br /><br /><b>Joseph Fauria TE, UCLA, 6'7" 258&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Fauria needs to improve as a blocker, but his size is something the Lions could easily utilize. He was very productive as a receiver for the Bruins.<br /><br /><b>Margus Hunt DE, SMU, 6'8" 280</b><br /><br />Hunt has to work on his technique, but his size and athleticism give him a high ceiling. If the Lions aren't able to retain Cliff Avril they could snag Hunt and plug him in.<br /><br /><b>Larry Warford OG, Kentucky, 6'3" 340</b><br /><br />Warford seems to be flying under the radar right now, but that could change after the Senior Bowl (which the Lions' staff is coaching). He has the look of a long term starter and would be a steal should he fall to the second round.<br /><br /><b>Khaseem Greene OLB/S, Rutgers, 6'1" 230</b><br /><br />Greene is a little undersized to be a linebacker in the NFL, but he was an extremely productive player at the collegiate level and a team leader. Greene was originally a safety so he could possibly transition back in the NFL.<br /><br /><b>Chase Thomas OLB, Stanford, 6'4" 245</b><br /><br />Thomas is a great all around linebacker. He can rush the passer, stop the run, and has the size to match up with tight ends. With Levy and Durant both under performing and hitting free agency, Thomas is exactly what the Lions need to boost their back seven. <br /><br /><b>Michael Williams TE, Alabama, 6'6" 270</b><br /><b><br /></b>When Reiff becomes a full-time starer in 2013 the Lions will need a tight end to play in the backfield similar to how they used Reiff in 2012. Williams is a stellar run-blocker and has the size to be a factor in the red zone.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-91889251436786748552013-01-18T11:41:00.000-08:002013-01-18T14:09:21.858-08:00Martin Mayhew's Draft History (by grade)<br />Stats don't tell the whole story and Mayhew should be judged on more than just his drafts, but talent acquired via the draft makes or breaks football teams and front offices. The players listed here have been major contributors over the last for seasons (at least at some point). I made <a href="http://www.lacesorspaces.com/2013/01/martin-mayhews-draft-history.html">another post looking at Mayhew's entire draft history</a> which covers players who have yet to contribute and who are no longer with the team. <br /><br />The grades are from stats website <a href="http://profootballfocus.com/">ProFootballFocus.com</a> and you can <a href="http://www.profootballfocus.com/about/grading/">find an explanation of their grades here</a>.The grade for each player is the total grade for their career since being drafted.<br /><br /><table border="1"><tbody><tr> <td>Grade</td> <td>Player Name</td> <td>Position</td> <td>Overall Selection Position</td> <td>Year Drafted</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">31.4</span></td> <td>Ndamukong Suh</td> <td>DT</td> <td>2</td> <td>2010</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">26.3</span></td> <td>Nick Fairley</td> <td>DT</td> <td>13</td> <td>2011</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">6.4</span></td> <td>Riley Reif</td> <td>OT</td> <td>23</td> <td>2012</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">5.3</span></td> <td>Willie Young*</td> <td>DE</td> <td>213</td> <td>2010</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">2.5</span></td> <td>Ryan Broyles</td> <td>WR</td> <td>54</td> <td>2012</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">1.3</span></td> <td>Louis Delmas*</td> <td>S</td> <td>33</td> <td>2009</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">1.2</span></td> <td>Mikel LeShoure</td> <td>RB</td> <td>57</td> <td>2011</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">1.2</span><br /><span style="color: lime;">(20)</span></td> <td>Sammie Hill</td> <td>DT</td> <td>115</td> <td>2009</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: lime;">0.0</span></td> <td>Jonte Green</td> <td>CB</td> <td>196</td> <td>2012</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-5.8</span><br /><span style="color: lime;">(26.9)</span></td> <td>Matthew Stafford</td> <td>QB</td> <td>1</td> <td>2009</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-7.4</span></td> <td>Bill Bentley</td> <td>CB</td> <td>85</td> <td>2012</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-7.8</span></td> <td>Amari Spievey</td> <td>CB <br />(converted to S)</td> <td>66</td> <td>2010</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-11.5</span></td> <td>Jahvid Best</td> <td>RB</td> <td>30</td> <td>2010</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-15.1</span></td> <td>Titus Young</td> <td>WR</td> <td>44</td> <td>2011</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-16.4</span></td> <td>Brandon Pettigrew</td> <td>TE</td> <td>20</td> <td>2009</td> </tr><tr> <td><span style="color: red;">-33.4</span></td> <td>DeAndre Levy</td> <td>LB</td> <td>76</td> <td>2009</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><br />*Free Agent<br />(Grade without rookie season factored in) <br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-73728674077955130832013-01-15T13:31:00.001-08:002013-01-15T13:49:41.210-08:00Martin Mayhew's Draft History <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Currently Contributing</span><br /><span style="color: orange;">Not Yet / Not Currently Contributing</span><br /><span style="color: red;">No Longer With Team</span><br /><br /><br />Round 1<br /><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">1 (2009) - Matthew Stafford, QB</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">2 (2010) - Ndamukong Suh, DT</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">13 (2011) - Nick Fairley, DT</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">20 (2009) - Brandon Pettigrew, TE</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">23 (2012) - Riley Reif, OT</span><br /><span style="color: orange;">30 (2010) - Jahvid Best, RB</span><br /><br />Round 2<br /><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">33 (2009) - Louis Delmas, S*</span><br /><span style="color: orange;">44 (2011) - Titus Young, WR</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">54 (2012) - Ryan Broyles, WR</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">57 (2011) - Mikel LeShoure, RB</span><br /><br />Round 3<br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">66 (2010) Amari Spievey, CB (converted to S)*</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">76 (2009) DeAndre Levy, LB*</span><br /><span style="color: red;">82 (2009) Derrick Williams, WR</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">85 (2012) Dwight Bentley, CB</span><br /><br />Round 4<br /><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">115 (2009) Sammie Hill, DT*</span><br /><span style="color: orange;">125 (2012) Ronnell Lewis, DE/OLB</span><br /><span style="color: orange;">128 (2010) Jason Fox, OT</span><br /><br />Round 5<br /><br /><span style="color: orange;">138 (2012) Tahir Whitehead, LB</span><br /><span style="color: orange;">148 (2012) Chris Greenwood, CB</span><br /><span style="color: red;">157 (2011) Doug Hogue, LB</span><br /><br />Round 6<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">192 (2009) Aaron Brown, RB</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">196 (2012) Jonte Green, CB</span></span><br /><br />Round 7<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">209 (2011) Johnny Culbreath, OT</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">213 (2010) Willie Young, DE*</span><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;">223 (2012) Travis Lewis, LB</span><br /><span style="color: red;">228 (2009) Lydon Murtha, OT</span><br /><span style="color: red;">235 (2009) Zack Follett, LB</span><br /><span style="color: red;">255 (2009) Dan Gronkowski, TE</span><br /><span style="color: red;">255 (2010) Tim Toone, WR</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span>*Free AgentAnthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-42716694159512857392013-01-02T09:44:00.000-08:002013-01-15T13:48:21.054-08:00Seven Moves the Detroit Lions Should Make 1. Upgrade at Defensive End.<br /><br />Kyle Vanden Bosch is hands down Detroit's worst player, let alone starter. In fact, he was rated the worst 4-3 DE in the league by ProFootballFocus.com.&nbsp;It's clear whatever intangibles he brings to the table are no longer a major factor and the Lions need to move on.&nbsp;Bjoern Werner and Damontre Moore are candidates for Detroit's first round pick, while Cincinatti's Michael Johnson is a potential free agent candidate. If nothing else, they just need to go with Lawrence Jackson as their starter (who they should most definitely re-sign).<br /><br />2. Re-sign Gosder Cherilus.<br /><br />Cherilus's early years as a&nbsp;mediocre (at best)&nbsp;talent have really put a sour taste in Lions' fans mouths, but in 2012 things were different. Believe it or not, Cherilus graded out as the league's second-best right tackle with the fifth-highest pass block grade out of all NFL tackles. The Lions need to lock Gosder up longterm.<br /><br />3. Upgrade the Outside Linebackers.<br /><br />Analysts and fans alike point to the secondary as the Lions' biggest weakness, but offenses could run at will this past season and that had a lot to do with the linebacker play. DeAndre Levy, who occasionally made big plays, has proven to be a backup level talent. If the Lions re-sign him I sincerely hope that they do not use him as a starter, though he is young enough that he might be able to improve on his game still (not to mention he had to play behind the league's worst defensive end). Justin Durant plays well against the run, but was often exposed in pass coverage allowing for tight ends and running backs to turn short passes into long gains. Tulloch had a down year, but was also playing through a knee injury, so I expect him to bounce back next season. I doubt the Lions will spend their first round pick on a linebacker, but if they trade back far enough it would be fun to see Manti Te'o in Honolulu Blue. <br /><br />4. &nbsp;Re-Sign Joique Bell.<br /><br />He's no Jahvid Best, but he is far more dynamic than Mikel LeShoure. He consistently broke tackles and was an asset in the passing game. I fully expect the Lions to draft another running back, but Bell has proven himself to be a difference-maker on offense.<br /><br />5. Sign Jarius Byrd.<br /><br />Pleeeeeaaaaaaase. He is one of the best safeties in the league and he's only 26. He would instantly improve the defense and allow the Lions to move on from Louis Delmas (or pair the two up). &nbsp;Mayhew needs to make a big move this offseason and this should be it.<br /><br />6. Extend Stafford's Contract.<br /><br />While Stafford may never be an elite NFL quarterback, he is clearly giving this team a chance to win every Sunday and at only 24 years old the Lions should make sure he sticks around for a while. Stafford's cap numbers for the next couple years are also fairly prohibitive and a contract extension would allow for Mayhew to surround him with more talent and upgrade the defense.<br /><br />7. Re-Sign Chris Houston.<br /><br />Houston is not an elite talent and should not be paid as such, but he was the most consistent player in the Lions defensive backfield in 2012. I don't believe it would be a huge blow to the team if they had to let him walk, but he is a talented back and an asset to the roster.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-37980293859750306242013-01-01T13:58:00.000-08:002013-01-15T13:49:17.524-08:00Four and TwelveWatching Forte and Cutler move the ball at will on that final drive to close out the game during the Bears' annual visit to Detroit really summed up the Lions' 2012 season well. The Lions looked fantastic at times, but the turnovers and weak defense (often times due to an offense that couldn't sustain a drive) would ultimately cost them the game.<br /><br />Before I begin the arduous process of sifting through pages and pages of stats I feel like the fan in me just needs some time to process.<br /><br />Fire Mayhew? Fire Schwartz? Fire Linehan? All across the internet fans try to place the blame for a team that continuously looked out of sync. They looked undisciplined and the play calling was unimaginative to say the least. Maybe this regime just isn't working.<br /><br />Or was it because of injuries? Seventeen different defensive backs saw the field this season. I know that injuries are a part of the game, but seventeen is just ridiculous. And Jahvid Best failed to return to the field. And then Burleson got hurt. And then Broyles. And Corey Williams got hurt. And then Nick Fairley. And then Sammie Hill.<br /><br />Oh yeah, and don't forget about the Titus Young situation.<br /><br />Was it because of the&nbsp;tumultuous&nbsp;offseason? The Lions lost their projected starting cornerback in Aaron Berry due to his arrest and subsequent ejection from the team, they lost LeShoure for two games due to suspension, and had to deal with Fairley being arrested twice as well. They really lowered the bar for what a good offseason in 2013 would look like.<br /><br />And why does Stafford keep throwing like that? Why isn't his position coach encouraging him to work on his mechanics? I have a difficult time knocking the guy that broke the pass attempts record and had to deal with maybe the most predictable offensive play calling I've ever seen, but I really hope he spends this offseason trying to take his game to the next level instead of <a href="http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2012/11/detroit_lions_qb_matthew_staff_35.html">listening to Schwartz</a>.<br /><br />Calvin Johnson is the Barry Sanders of wide receivers, and his career is beginning to look as if it may play out the same way. Are they really going to let that happen?<br /><br />Is it really just taking this long to recover from Matt Millen and the 0-16 season? The talent is there. Regardless of what people want to say, this is not the same old Lions. As long as Stafford and Calvin are in the mix the Lions will always have a chance to win games, but there are still too many holes on the roster.<br /><br />Well, here we go. Another offseason full of mock drafts and free agent speculation, but whatever happens... GO LIONS.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-53806797449016461642012-11-09T09:53:00.001-08:002013-01-15T13:50:02.573-08:00Is Stanford Routt good for the Detroit Lions?The Kansas City Chiefs recently released their 2012 free agent acquisition corner back Stanford Routt. Routt previously played in Oakland where he was drafted in the second round of the 2005 draft. The Chiefs signed Routt to a three year 18 million dollar contract in order to replace Brandon Carr who went over to the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.<br /><br />Routt has struggled this season giving up 491 yards and three touchdowns, but those numbers don't tell the whole story. A good portion of those yards came in two games (which Brady Quinn started over an injured Matt Cassel), significantly skewing the total. Also, the Chiefs' offense has struggled this season owning the worst turnover differential at -20 which consistently puts the defense in difficult situations possibly further skewing Routt's numbers. On top of the turnover numbers, the Chiefs' pass rush is lacking which can be&nbsp;detrimental&nbsp;to pass coverage. Routt would likely benefit from a change in scenery.<br /><br />Outside of corner Chris Houston who is having a career season, Detroit's defensive backfield has been has been a revolving door. Third round pick Bill Bentley is out for the season with a shoulder injury, Jacob Lacey missed time with a concussion and has struggled in pass coverage, and rookie Chris Greenwood never made it to the field after landing on the PUP list and then IR. Drayton Florence broke his forearm early in the second game of the season and was put on the designated-to-return IR list and will be available in week 11.<br /><br />The Lions were forced to start rookie Jonte Green opposite of Houston who filled in admirably outside of a pass interference penalty against the Seahawks. Alphonso Smith was brought in for depth after being released during final cuts and also played well in spot duty. Don Carey, who the Lions use at safety and corner, was brought in after Louis Delmas suffered another setback from his knee. The Lions have been very fortunate that these short term solutions have worked in their favor.<br /><br />Routt has an excellent size-speed combination at 6'1" 195 pounds and having run a 4.27 forty yard dash at his combine in 2005 as well as displaying good skills as a tackler which may offer the Lions some versatility to play him at corner or safety. Ricardo Silva has filled in well for the sidelined Spievey, but lacks the size to be effective in the run game.<br /><br />Since Routt cleared waivers and has yet to be signed, the Lions may be able to sign Routt for cheap. While he wouldn't be a significant upgrade for the Lions, he would offer a veteran presence in the Lions young backfield. He would also provide a viable option should the Lions be forced to put one of their corners at the safety position. I'd prefer to see the Lions continue to play Green or Lacey to see what they have in the young corners, but if the Lions can snag Routt without having to break the bank he would at least offer an upgrade over Don Carey and at most be a stopgap starter across from Houston. Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-34928413135795580342012-11-01T08:44:00.002-07:002013-01-15T13:50:50.799-08:00Detroit Lions re-sign Don Carey, put Bentley on IRThe Detroit Lions have <a href="https://twitter.com/davebirkett/statuses/264018886054264832">just placed rookie and third round pick Bill Bentley on injured reserve</a> ending his season. In a corresponding move they have re-signed defensive back Don Carey.<br /><br />Carey played in spot duty at different corner positions last season grading out slightly positive on 45 snaps according to ProFootballFocus.com. In 2010 he played primarily free safety in Jacksonville. He'll provide solid depth until Delmas is back to full health and Drayton Florence returns from the designated-to-return IR list.&nbsp;Don Carey's addition likely means the Lions were unable find any suitable safety help via trade. <br /><br />With Bentley going to IR it will be interesting to see who starts across from Chris Houston this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie sixth round pick Jonte Green has played well in his two starts the past two weeks agains the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks, but is still making some rookie mistakes, while young veteran Jacob Lacey, who is returning from injury, hasn't held up against the pass very well at all. Either corner should be able to hold their own against a very&nbsp;pedestrian Jacksonville Jaguar&nbsp;pass attack this week, however.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-48033640971483068222012-10-30T15:06:00.002-07:002013-01-15T13:51:18.700-08:00Detroit Lions trade for Jacksonville Jaguar receiver Mike ThomasAs of right now, an unofficial trade pending a physical would send Jacksonville Jaguar WR/PR Mike Thomas to the Detroit Lions for&nbsp;a mid to late round draft pick (<a href="https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/263452498323439616">early reports </a>are a 2014 5th round pick). The Lions have already released Justin Miller in a corresponding move.<br /><br />The 5'8" 195 pound punt-returning receiver makes a lot of sense for the Lions who have struggled to produce yardage on returns. Thomas will likely step in to return punts in relief of running back Stefan Logan who has been prone to putting the ball on the ground this season.<br /><br />This is the second young receiver the Lions have brought on after they signed Brian Robiskie last week. The two receivers have different skill sets as Robiskie is more of a red zone posession receiver type, while Thomas has the speed to possibly carve out a spot for himself on this offense. Neither recently aqcuired receivers will push Calvin Johnson, Titus Young, or Ryan Broyles for playing time, but the Lions have done well to restock their receiving corps with young, high up-side type receivers.<br /><br />Stefan Logan's roster spot is likely safe as he is still an asset on special teams and the Lions only have four running backs on the roster currently.<br /><br />On top of his punt return skills, the size-speed comparison to guys like Darren Sproles, Randall Cobb or even Percy Harvin cannot be overlooked. Mike Thomas ran a 4.3 40 coming into the 2009 combine, a slightly faster time than Jahvid Best. The Lions could be looking to replace an aspect of their offense they have sorely missed without Best. That's not to say the talent level is there with Thomas, but don't be too quick to dismiss this as simply a trade for a new punt returner.<br /><br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-4222218091378248762012-10-24T13:18:00.000-07:002013-01-15T13:52:55.850-08:00The Detroit Lions sign receiver Brian Robiskie<a href="http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2012/10/wr_brian_robiskie_signed_by_de.html">The Detroit Lions signed Ohio State University alum Brian Robiskie today</a> as depth at receiver after Nate Burleson was place on injured reserve with a broken leg. Robiskie was the 35th overall selection by the Cleveland Browns in the 2009 draft (one spot before the Broncos selected corner Alphonso Smith, and three spots after the Lions selected safety Louis Delmas).<br /><br />Robiski was recorded as 6'3" and 209 pounds at the 2009 combine running a 4.59 40 and jumping 37.5 inches in the vertical (Calvin Johnson's vertical at the 2007 combine was 42.5 for comparison). He was highly praised as a receiver coming out of college but hasn't been able to stick in Cleveland or, most recently, &nbsp;Jacksonville. He'll likely be relegated to special teams in Detroit, but with could develop as a red zone threat.<br /><br />The Lions also worked out receivers Deon Butler and Legedu Naanee along with Robiskie. I have to imagine his ability to play in the slot and outside was a big factor in their selection, but maybe more importantly is his ability to return punts. Stefan Logan may not lose his job as the Lions primary returner just yet as Robiskie doesn't really have the straight line speed to be a real threat, but he's definitely on notice after putting two balls on the ground against the Bears.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-25712569875199465742012-10-23T15:04:00.002-07:002012-10-23T15:04:44.896-07:00Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears: The Good, The Bad, and The UglyThere's little solace to be found for Detroit Lions fans after narrowly losing to division rivals The Chicago Bears, but amidst the the biting loss there are some bright spots to get excited about to go along with the trouble spots to be critical of:<br /><br /><b>The Good.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />The Lions were forced to start their rookie sixth round draft pick Jonte Green because of injuries to Dwight Bentley and Jacob Lacey. They also were forced to play Alphonso Smith who was re-signed last week. Heading into the game this seemed like a dream scenario for Cutler, but for the most part the two corners played very well. Smith got burned early by Marshall, but turned it around to help the defense put together a great game. Chris Houston has also been very good this season which suddenly gives the Lions five young corners with potential. I wouldn't be surprised to see Green overtake Lacey after his performance against the Bears.<br /><br />In other defensive news Nick Fairley got his second start and has overtaken Corey Williams on the depth chart and is starting to look like the first round pick everyone was hoping he would be.<br /><br />Despite what seems to be popular belief, the offensive line is playing at a high level. Sims, Raiola and Peterman have been run blocking machines opening huge holes for LeShoure (it pains me to think what Jahvid Best could do with that kind of running room...). Jeff Backus has struggled mightily when it comes to run blocking, but has excelled at pass blocking. Just the opposite, right guard Stephen Peterman has been a great run blocker but a poor pass protector. Gosder Cherilus has been very consistently playing at an above average level and is really making a case for the Lions to re-sign him to a long term contract which makes a lot of sense for the 28 year old fifth-year veteran.<br /><br /><b>The Bad.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Nate Burleson is out for the year with a broken leg and Amari Spievey, who has been playing well since taking over for Coleman, is out indefinitely with a concussion. The Lions have depth at receiver with Titus Young and Ryan Broyles ready to step in, but are dangerously thin now at safety.<br /><br />I have been a supporter of polarizing left tackle Jeff Backus over the past couple years as he has been stellar most of the time, but this year even I have to admit he appears to be losing a step. He is still an above average pass protector with veteran&nbsp;savvy&nbsp;and technique which has really kept Stafford upright for the most part. His run blocking skills, however, are really slipping. It's going to be harder and harder for him to fend off rookie Riley Reiff who has been playing very well in spot duty as a part of Detroit's new jumbo package. The coaches are going to put their faith in Backus as a veteran, and rightly so, but Reiff will have his chance sooner than later. <br /><br /><b>The Ugly.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Fumbles. They lost three and there were three more. I keep wanting to blame it on the weather, but there really is no excuse. LeShoure was handling the ball loosely and got Brigg'd, Bell tried to jump four yards into the endzone and practically handed the ball to Urlacher, Logan dropped the ball twice losing one, and Pettigrew put two on the ground (and luckily out of bounds). Jim Schwartz <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20121023/SPORTS01/121023072/detroit-lions-jim-schwartz?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs">reaffirmed his faith in Stefan Logan as their main returner</a>, but it seems Logan has been increasingly prone to losing the football.<br /><br />It's so hard to judge play calling from a fan perspective, but it's even harder to ignore the late-in-the-game success the Lions have when they are forced to be aggressive. If you take away the fumbles the Lions would almost definitely have walked out of Soldier Field with a win so it's hard to fault Scott Linehan, but at the same time it really feels that the coaches are trying to make the Lions' offense something that it is not. Through six games the whole team hasn't been able to get on the same page for one game, whether it's special teams giving up touchdowns, Stafford looking careless with the football, or practically everyone dropping the ball (literally). When you see brilliance one game and meltdowns the next it's hard not to start to question the coaching. I understand that the coaches can't be out there to catch the ball, but I think most of the staff is probably on notice for the next ten games. Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-39844707157318930392012-10-22T14:17:00.000-07:002012-10-22T14:23:09.021-07:00How the Detroit Lions can beat the Chicago Bears on Monday Night FootballTonight's bout at Soldier Field is crucial for the Detroit Lions. Getting back to .500 would be a big step to digging themselves out of the hole they're in. It will be tough sledding against one of the league's best defenses and an emerging offense, but the Lions have the talent to match up with Chicago.<br /><br />In order to win tonight the Lions need to...<br /><br /><b>Score touchdowns, not field goals.</b><br /><br />Through five games the Lions have managed just 11 TD's to 16 field goals. The Bears defense has been allowing an average of only 14.2 points per game, while their offense has been scoring an average of 29.8 points per game. The Lions can't afford to settle for three points every time they get into scoring range.<br /><br /><b>Eliminate turnovers and control the ball.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />The Lions' offense has had success controlling the ball with an average 32:28 minutes time of&nbsp;possession&nbsp;per game (7th in the league) compared to the Bears' 32:49 (3rd). Where the two teams differ is the Lions are -1 on turnovers for the year whereas the Bears are +9. It's cliche, but the Lions cannot afford to turn the ball over to this stingy Bears defense.<br /><br /><b>Convert on third down.</b><br /><br />The Lions' third down conversion percentage on offense is 38% (22/65) good for 23rd in the league. It will be difficult, but the Lions need to step that up against Bears and keep drives alive. The Bears defense has only allowed 29% of third downs to be converted which is good for third in the league (and interestingly enough is the same as the Eagles' defense).<br /><br /><b>Get to Cutler.</b><br /><br />The Bears have some great weapons in Marshall, Forte and Hester, but Cutler has proven to make big mistakes under pressure. The Lions need to get to him early and often to change the course of this game in their favor. Cutler was sacked six times and hurried eleven in Chicago's game against Green Bay in which the Bears only scored 10 points. Detroit's D line needs to be dominant tonight.<br /><br /><b>Stay strong on special teams.</b><br /><br />Devin Hester alone could change the outcome of this game. The Lions' special teams had been atrocious until last weeks game in&nbsp;Philadelphia. The Lions need to keep Hester and check and refrain from making any mistakes against the dynamic returner. One big play could be the deciding factor in this one.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-41877209990289410582012-10-02T06:39:00.002-07:002012-10-04T12:14:26.431-07:00The NFL, Gambling and Charity<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The National Football League does not allow their players in any activities involved in gambling while under contract in the NFL. This is due to the understandable fear that players might get influenced by book makers, that can potentially impact the games they play.&nbsp; However, assome news sites like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pokerlistings.com/">this one</a>&nbsp;have reported, in the recent years the league has seemed to relax on this policy and has allowed players to play in poker events that are for charity.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-PH">Although the game of poker is largely considered to be gambling, charity poker events are usually held in tournament fashion with the participants not playing for cash prizes.&nbsp;The money is donated to charity, while some of the top players in the tournament will receive aprize, but not in cash form.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-PH">Charlie Batch, a quarterback for the Steelers, holds an annual poker event. The event is called "In the Pocket"&nbsp;&nbsp;and it benefits his&nbsp;<a href="http://www.batchfoundation.org/index.shtml">Best of the Batch Foundation</a>&nbsp;</span>that provides literacy programs for both youth and adults. The event&nbsp;is a mix other games like poker, ping-pong, and even billiards. NFL players&nbsp;and other celebrities&nbsp;pay a fee to play in the games or simply attend the event with Batch.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-PH">Tyler's Team Charity Poker Classic is another charity event that NFL players participate in. Tampa Bay&nbsp;Buccaneers&nbsp;James Lee and Errict Rhett played with various other players to help raise money for Tyler's organization,&nbsp;</span>the Tyler McLellan Foundation,&nbsp;that supports youth sports in southern Florida. The event is quite inexpensive as the event opens with a&nbsp;$50 buy-in and allows rebuys at $20.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-PH">Contrary to popular belief, the game of poker is not a form of gambling with the likes of blackjack and roulette. This is because the players are playing against each other and not against the house.&nbsp; Well of course, the game is still widely considered as gambling and the NFL shares that opinion, but thanks to charity events NFL players are able to play the game without being a risk to the NFL's image.&nbsp; With all the money going to charities, it makes everyone, especially the beneficiaries, winners in the end.</span></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-72905352551663143592012-08-14T11:23:00.002-07:002012-08-15T11:04:59.275-07:00A Look Around the NFC North: The Green Bay Packers<br /><b>2011 record:&nbsp;</b>15-1<br /><b><br /></b><b>2012 Draft Class:</b><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">1 -&nbsp;Nick Perry, DE, USC<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">2 -&nbsp;Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">2 -&nbsp;Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">4 -&nbsp;Mike Daniels, DT, Iowa<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">4 -&nbsp;Jerron McMillian, SS, Maine<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">5 -&nbsp;Terrell Manning, OLB, North Carolina State<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">7 -&nbsp;Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">7 -&nbsp;B.J. Coleman, QB, Chattanooga</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><b>Key 2012 Free Agent Acquisitions:</b><br /><br />Jermichael Finley TE (Packers), Jeff Saturday OC (Colts)<br /><br /><br /><b>The Lowdown:</b><br /><b><br /></b>The Packers went 15-1 last year and were the heavy favorites to win the Superbowl before an end of the year deflation.&nbsp;Rodgers is coming back with his array of weapons and should be just as potent as last year.<br /><br />The major concern in Green Bay is on the defensive side of the ball. They lost Nick Collins to a severe neck injury and released struggling Charlie Peprah. Desmond Bishop went down with a ruptured right hamstring and is likely out for the season. The Pack added six defensive players with their first six picks in the 2012 draft, including Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy and Casey Hayward, who are expected to contribute immediately. Going from one of the best defenses in 2010 to one of the worst in 2011, it will be interesting to see how they fare this year as "the team to beat" in the NFC.<br /><br />The running game is somewhat of a question mark right now. James Starks was solid last season putting up 621 rushing yards and with Ryan Grant out of the way Starks should be primed for a big year, but his first preseason game was borderline terrible. His track record speaks better than that performance, but it had to raise some eyebrows. Alex Green is returning from an ACL tear and should contribute regularly, especially on third downs, but has had a slow start in training camp. The Packers went out and signed Cedric Benson who is a slight upgrade on Ryan Grant, but will likely be relegated to a killing-the-clock role.<br /><br />Another concern on the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line, in particular the left tackle position. Newhouse could make a Bulaga-like turnaround and play well this year, but after being graded out as the worst tackle in the NFL by ProFootballFocus.com it's doubtful. Jeff Saturday was brought in to replace Scott Wells at center who left in free agency. Saturday has been playing at a high level for along time, but at 37 years old could fall off the cliff rather quickly. The offensive line played poorly in their preseason debut, but certainly has the talent to be one of the best in the league, though they also have the potential to be one of the worst.<br /><br />Maybe the most troubling aspect with the Packers was their late season decline followed up by their poor preseason debut. They looked invincible at times last season, but have seemed off over their past 3-4 games. Is it a bump in the road or a sign of things to come?<br /><br /><b>Biggest Assets:</b>&nbsp;Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, <strike>Desmond Bishop</strike>, Josh Sitton, Jordy Nelson, Bryan Bulaga, Greg Jennings<br /><br /><b>Needs to Improve:</b>&nbsp;BJ Raji, Marshall Newhouse<br /><br /><b>Bottom Line:</b><br /><br />The Packers are once again sitting atop the NFC and arguably the NFL. Their high powered offense orchestrated by one of the best (if not <i>the</i> best) Quarterbacks in the league will more than make up for their poor defensive play. If the defense can step it up and the offensive line perform once again the Packers will be Superbowl contenders. There are enough question marks, however, to indicate that Green Bay could struggle somewhat this season, especially in the tough NFC North.&nbsp;</div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-86317396688375928762012-08-14T09:25:00.001-07:002012-08-14T09:25:22.571-07:00Preseason Positives: Browns @ LionsFriday night's game against the visiting Cleveland Browns wasn't exactly picture perfect, but we got to see some outstanding individual performances.<br /><br /><b>Willie Young</b><br /><br />Young continued to show dominance wreaking havoc in the backfield. He got to the Browns' new QB Brandon Weeden causing and recovering a fumble. Pressure from Young contributed to Bentley's would be interception intended for Josh Gordon and Bentley's pick intended for Greg Little. The avid fisherman should reel in a juicy stat line this season.<br /><br /><b>Ronnel Lewis</b><br /><br />It's hard to evaluate players when they are going up against another team's second and third string, but Lewis looked promising against the Browns. He was physical, got into the backfield, and had a key stop near the goal line. After one game I think he has the edge on Everette Brown, but it will be interesting to see who makes the cut. As of right now the Lions could potentially have six defensive ends on the roster, though they're likely to only carry four, maybe five. Lewis would be eligible for the practice squad but another team would likely pick him up immediately. <br /><br /><b>Bill Bentley</b><br /><br />Bentley provided a little bit of a mixed bag on Friday night giving up a huge passing play and letting a potential pick-six bounce off of his chest, then coming back to grab a ball away from Greg Little and not letting much else get past him the rest of the night. In short, he looked like a rookie. He flashed the potential that caused the Lions to draft him in the third round this year though, and will hopefully continue to build on that as the preseason progresses. If that happens he'll likely find himself in the Lions starting line up come week one.<br /><br /><b>Shaun Hill</b><br /><br />We likely won't see Hill much after the preseason, but it's good to know that your back up quarterback is ready and capable. Hill looked sharp against the Browns' second string orchestrating two touchdown scoring drives. I thought for sure someone like Miami would try to sign him away this off-season, but I'm glad he's back in Detroit.<br /><br /><b>The Run Game</b><br /><br />&nbsp;Mikel LeShoure is nursing a hamstring injury after coming of a ruptured&nbsp;Achilles's&nbsp;tendon. Jahvid Best is still sidelined after suffering multiple concussions. Kevin Smith always looks promising but is all too often slowed by injury. Stefan Logan is coming off a strong camp and provides some speed to the Lions' backfield, but his size limits his production between the tackles. Enter: Keiland Williams and Joique Bell.<br /><br />Williams was in on only 125 snaps in 2011 rushing 58 times for 195 yards giving him a 3.4 yard per average carry with two fumbles and two touchdowns on the season. Those stats are underwhelming at best. Outside of the fumbles, one could make a case that is was the offensive line's inability to run block to blame for Detroit's rushing woes. On Friday the line opened up holes for Williams and he took advantage rushing nine times for 71 yards, a whopping 7.9 yard per carry average. He didn't run much with the starters, but the improvement is promising.<br /><br />Bell was signed off of New Orleans' practice squad last season and never saw the field. He looked good on Friday rushing for 89 yards on 16 carries for a 5.6 yards per carry average. He'll have a hard time unseating Williams, but at least looks up to the challenge and is showing some promise. He helped the Lions put up 198 rushing yards on Friday and has a solid chance of cracking the 53 man roster. <br /><br /><br />The Lions' next preseason game is this Friday at 8:00 against the Baltimore Ravens.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-6878959513416324592012-07-25T15:11:00.003-07:002012-07-25T16:15:40.836-07:00Detroit Lions add former Jaguar Drew ColemanIn the wake of Aaron Berry's release the Lions added two corners: former Cardinal Justin Miller and former Jaguar Drew Coleman.<br /><br />Miller is likely seen as purely a special teams guy who could push Logan for the return job. He probably won't end up on the 53 man roster.<br /><br />Coleman, however, was solid in coverage last year with the Jaguars, especially in the slot. He will be in direct competition with former Indianapolis Colt Jacob Lacey and rookie Bill Bentley for the starting position across from Houston. I have to imagine Lacey is the front runner as of right now having starting experience and having already gone through OTA's, but this still be an interesting camp battle.<br /><br />Coleman played 514 snaps (for comparison Berry played 478) for Jacksonville last season appearing in all 16 of their games and starting four. He caught two interceptions, defended nine passes, forced four fumbles, recorded 46 tackles (all those stats according to <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/9775/drew-coleman">ESPN</a>) and allowed two touchdowns (according to ProFootballFocus.com).<br /><br />At the very least Coleman will provide quality depth for the Lions. His upside is limited coming into his age 29 campaign, but will be a welcome veteran presence in a secondary full of inexperience.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-32144013742458422102012-06-06T11:30:00.000-07:002012-07-21T13:04:00.056-07:00A Look Around the NFC North: The Minnesota Vikings<b>2011 record: </b>3-13<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>2012 Draft Class:</b><br /><br />1 - Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California (6-7, 306)<br /><div>1 - Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame (6-2, 213)</div><div>3 - Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida (5-10, 199)&nbsp;</div><div>4 - Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas (5-10, 196)&nbsp;</div><div>4 - Rhett Ellison, TE, Southern California (6-5, 251)&nbsp;</div><div>4 - Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas (6-3, 219)&nbsp;</div><div>5 - Robert Blanton, DB, Notre Dame (6-1, 208)&nbsp;</div><div>6 - Blair Walsh, K, Georgia (5-9, 187)&nbsp;</div><div>7 - Audie Cole, OLB, North Carolina State (6-4, 246)&nbsp;</div><div>7 - Trevor Guyton, DT, California (6-3, 285)<br /><br /><b>Key 2012 Free Agent Acquisitions:</b><br /><br />Jerome Simpson (Cincinnati), John Carlson TE (Seattle), Geoff Schwartz OT (Carolina), Jerome Felton (Indianapolis), Erin Henderson (Minnesota), Zack Bowman (Chicago), Chris Carr (Baltimore)<br /><br /><br /><b>The Lowdown:</b><br /><br />The Minnesota Vikings lost nine games by seven points or less last season.<br /><br />Their defense, while actually playing pretty well, was a mixed bag being one of the best against the run and and one of the worst against the pass. Their defensive line, namely Jared Allen, Brian Robison and Kevin Williams, were extremely productive combining for nearly 40 sacks and almost 100 hurries. Unfortunately, when quarterbacks had time to throw there was little to stop them.<br /><br />Outside of Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook the Vikings' secondary was in rough shape. They drafted Harrison Smith and Josh Robinson who are certainly long term answers, but may not contribute heavily during their rookie campaigns. They also brought in Chris Carr and Zack Bowman at the cornerback &nbsp;position. Carr could be a slight upgrade and Bowman will be valuable depth but is not going to be a difference maker.<br /><br />On the offensive side of the ball, Christian Ponder struggled mightily. He showed flashes of what he could be, but was constantly under duress. Enter: Matt Kalil. Kalil will be an immediate upgrade over Charlie Johnson and will hopefully allow Ponder to grow and excel.<br /><br />Ponder had a few weapons in Peterson, Gerhart, Harvin and Rudolph, but it's telling that Aromashodu, Camarillo, Berrian and Jenkins all had a significant amount of snaps and did little with them. The Vikings are hoping that Jerome Simpson can step in and be the solution across from Harvin while Greg Childs and Jarius Wright develop.<br /><br />Harvin is a tremendous and dynamic talent, but the Vikings still lack a true number one wideout and will have to once again rely heavily on Adrian Peterson who is coming off a torn ACL (and miraculously looks like he'll be able to play week 1). It will be interesting to see if the Vikings stellar run game can stay on track with Jim Kleinsasser retiring. Just to put into perspective his contribution, Kleinsasser has in on 206 plays run blocking to Peterson and Gerhart's 325 combined run plays.<br /><br />The Vikings drafted Blair Walsh who could prove to be a pivotal player if they have another season where the majority of their games are close.<br /><br /><b>Biggest Assets:</b> John Sullivan, Matt Kalil, Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Jared Allen, Brian Robison, Kevin Williams, Erin Henderson, Antoine Winfield.<br /><br /><b>Needs to Improve:</b> Christian Ponder<br /><br /><b>Bottom Line:</b>&nbsp;The Vikings have a lot of talented players, but the onus is on Christian Ponder to get this team over the hump. Unfortunately, the front office has failed to significantly improve on Ponder's supporting cast. Jerome Simpson, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs may contribute, but will not significantly improve this offense (though Childs could be a solid long term answer). This is a team that could get eight &nbsp;or so wins, but in the pass happy NFC North they will have trouble keeping pace putting up points and stopping the pass. &nbsp;</div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-23353722309250119222012-05-24T23:01:00.003-07:002012-05-24T23:01:53.364-07:00Detroit Lions' Post-Draft Offseason Progress Report<br />Earlier this off-season I complied lists of the Lions&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lacesorspaces.com/2012/01/top-5-positions-of-concern-defense.html">biggest needs on defense</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lacesorspaces.com/2012/02/top-5-positions-of-concern-offense.html">biggest needs on offense</a>. Let's take a look at how they've addressed those needs so far:<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Offense:</b></span><br /><br /><b>Receiver: Complete</b><br />The Lions took Oklahoma Sooner Ryan Broyles in the second round of the draft. While this may have seemed like a luxury pick to most fans it was a wise move on the Lions part as Burleson struggled last season. Burleson is still a solid receiver and a vocal team leader, but Broyles is the future. Also, imagine Young, Burleson, Broyles and Megatron lined up. It's going to be fun to watch. Patrick Edwards seems like the early favorite to land that fifth receiver spot, but I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Rashied Davis back in the mix.<br /><br /><b>Tackle: Complete</b><br />Riley Reiff out of Iowa is going to compete for a starting spot but may be relegated to swing tackle duties as Cherilus plays out the final year of his contract. The Lions also have Corey Hilliard, Jason Fox and Johnny Culbreath competing for a roster spot.<br /><br />The Lions' best case scenario would be Fox or Culbreath showing they could be the right tackle of the future. If that happens the Lions will have someone to slide into the right tackle spot should they play Reiff this season at right tackle and then move him over to the left side in 2013. I don't expect Hilliard to make the 53 man roster.<br /><br /><b>Center: Incomplete</b><br />Raiola still has two years left in his contract so this isn't exactly an immediate need, but they need to address this position soon. They failed to add to this position in the draft but could still add someone when cuts start happening later in the summer.<br /><br /><b>Fullback: Complete</b><br />The Lions' front office released Will Heller and then re-signed him. They then signed former boxer James Bryant. Bryant's probably just a camp body, but could be a big surprise.<br /><br /><b>Halfback: Complete</b><br />Injuries are a huge concern here, but with LeShoure, Best, KSmith and Bell the Lions could have a beast of a backfield. A steady rotation will hopefully keep the injury bug away and quell the Lions third-and-short woes.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Defense:</b></span><br /><br /><b>Safety: Complete</b><br />The re-signing of Erik Coleman marks the Lions' third annual veteran-to-back-up-Spievey event. I imagine Spievey will be on a short leash, but maybe having a full off-season in his position will get him on track. Delmas has to stay on the field and Spievey has to be consistent this season to secure their spots on the team in the future as they are unrestricted and restricted free agents in 2013, respectively. The Lions also added Jonte Green in the draft who could shake out as a safety and brought in UDFA Alonzo Lawrence who has potential but is a long shot to make the final roster.<br /><br /><b>Cornerback: Complete</b><br />Aaron Berry has been running with the first team across from Chris Houston with Jacob Lacey manning the slot. This setup could have a similar look to last year or could be an upgrade. The Lions also drafted Bill Bentley and Chris Greenwood who will have back up duties in their rookie seasons but are likely to see playing time at some point in the season due to injury (Houston missed two games last season, Berry missed six).<br /><br /><b>Defensive End: Complete</b><br />Lawrence Jackson is ready to take over for Kyle VandenBosch when it's time, he just has to stay healthy. The Lions drafted Oklahoma Sooner Ronnell Lewis who could take over for the currently franchised Cliff Avril if he departs in 2013. Willie Young has also played consistently well as a rotational pass rusher.<br /><br /><b>Linebacker: Complete</b><br />Levy, Tulloch and Durant will be back for the 2012 season. Levy will have to prove that he is a long-term solution at weakside backer this season or the Lions will let him walk. Levy would make for a decent trade chip right now, but I suspect the Lions will value continuity over possibility. The Lions would be wise to lock Durant up for a few more years, though they may not have the cap to make that move right away.<br /><br />They also added Okalahoma Sooner Travis Lewis and Temple Owl Tahir Whitehead in the draft who will compete with 2011 draftee Doug Hogue and Ashlee Palmer for backup and special teams duties.<br /><br /><b>Defensive Tackle: Complete</b><br />The Lions didn't release Williams in their darkest hour and re-signed Fluellen bringing back the same&nbsp;personnel as the 2011 season. It will be interesting to see if Hill or Fairley push Williams for his spot in camp and if so how the Lions react to that situation. I expect Ronnell Lewis to take Fluellen's roster spot when final cuts happen.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Summary:</b></span><br /><br /><ul><li>The Lions' have a successor for Jeff Backus.&nbsp;</li><li>They still need to find depth behind Raiola.&nbsp;</li><li>Lawrence Jackson is ready to replace KVB and Ronnell Lewis could do the same for Avril should he depart.&nbsp;</li><li>Two potential starting caliber cornerbacks were added in the draft.&nbsp;</li><li>A receiver who can also return kicks was added in Ryan Broyles.</li><li>The Lions now have depth with potential rather than aging veterans at most positions. &nbsp; &nbsp;</li></ul>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-81163737020036413682012-05-22T13:29:00.001-07:002012-05-22T13:30:11.176-07:00Should the Detroit Lions trade for Cowboy Mike Jenkins?Mike Jenkins wants out of Dallas after the Cowboys acquired Brandon Carr during free agency and traded up to snag Morris Claiborne 6th overall in this year's draft. Jenkins views himself as a starter, but struggled in 2011 as he battled through injuries including a severe hamstring pull that sidelined him for four games.<br /><br />The word on the street is Dallas wants a 5th round pick for him.<br /><br />The intriguing thing about Jenkins is that he had a stellar 2009 campaign while putting in over 1,000 snaps. He regressed in 2010, but bounced back in 2011 to have a mediocre season despite all his injuries. Going forward I would assume he will be at least a slightly above average player with the potential to have a few really good seasons.<br /><br />This is a classic buy low situation for the Lions. There are a couple problems though:<br /><br />First of all, Jenkins only has one year left on his contract. It's manageable at just over $1 million, but if they are going to give up a draft pick for him he has to play into their plans for the future. As of right now the Lions only have two cornerbacks under contract for 2013, rookies Bentley and Greenwood. Houston, Smith and Lacey will be unrestricted free agents, while Berry will be a restricted free agent. Jenkins could be in the mix to stick around in Detroit if they trade for him and would give them some leverage if they attempt to extend or re-sign Houston.<br /><br />The other problem is the depth chart. The Lions are already six deep at the cornerback position and they will likely only keep five on the 53 main roster. Alphonso Smith is probably on his way out which would leave Berry and Lacey on the bubble.<br /><br />Berry, who is 23, put in a solid season for the Lions in 2011 despite drawing the ire of Lions' fans at the end of the season. Lacey, who is 24, started to turn things around half way through the season after a rough start in Indy. It's possible that Jenkins could outplay both of these guys, but at 27 is much less of a long term prospect.<br /><br />Mike Jenkins would be somewhat of a gamble, but if the Lions see a potential starter while Greenwood and Bentley develop they'd be wise to pull the trigger. If they think Berry and Lacey are going to be the guys in 2012 and beyond, they'd be wise to pass.<br /><br />All things considered, the Lions could probably get better use out of their 5th round pick in the draft than spending it on Jenkins.Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551306818611962782.post-497321853847384342012-05-05T13:56:00.000-07:002012-05-05T13:56:30.479-07:00Could the Detroit Lions' defensive line have a new look in 2012?After a 10-6 season and a &nbsp;"controversial" draft this could be Mayhew and Scwartz's defining season. Have they turned this team into a perennial contender or do they regress following their first playoff appearance in 12 years?<br /><br />The answer likely lies in their defense which was ranked 23rd in the regular season. &nbsp;The Lions defense is predicated on their defensive line as displayed by the investment two consecutive first round draft picks (Suh, Fairley), big signing (VandenBosch), trades (Jackson, Williams) and use of the franchise tag (Avril).&nbsp;Seniority and finances would dictate that Detroit's defensive line would look similar to how it did last season, but on field production would indicate a changes could be coming.<br /><br />Let's take a look how the players on the Lions' defensive line fared in 2011:<br /><div><br /></div><div>(Player Name: <a href="http://profootballfocus.com/">ProFootballFocus.com</a>'s overall grade)</div><div><br /><b>Defensive End:</b><br /><br /></div><div>Lawrence Jackson: +12.6</div><div><br /></div><div>Jackson was a beast for most of the season until he got hurt and missed four games. He wasn't quite the same when he returned. He was going 50-50 on snaps with VandenBosch up until the injury. If he can stay on the field the Lions have their future starting RDE in Jackson. In fact, the Lions should be starting him over VandenBosch now. The only problem is this is a contract year for Jackson where he'll be making less than $1 and KVB will be making $5 mil. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Willie Young: +11.7</div><div><br /></div><div>Young's grades are somewhat inflated due to being on the field in ideal conditions. He was primarily used on passing downs making things a little easier on him. That's not to take away from Young's production, who did a lot with the 274 snaps he was on the field for. Young is an ideal player to have rotating with Avril and will continue to give the Lions a strong pass rush in 2012.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Cliff Avril: +6.7</div><div><br /></div><div>Avril was on the field more than any other defensive end putting in 889 snaps. It's no surprise to me that he and the Lions can't come to an agreement on contract terms as he is likely overvaluing himself. Avril is a stud left end, but was hot and cold all season. He put up some great highlights, but he struggled just as much as he succeeded. He'll no doubt continue to improve, and don't get me wrong I'd love to see him in Honolulu Blue for years to come, but he isn't worth breaking the bank over at this point. As much as the cost of the franchise tag might sting I think the Lions front office is wise to continue to evaluate his talent without overpaying him for years to come.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Andre Fluellen: -2.4</div><div><br /></div><div>Fluellen's versatility is the only asset to this team as he plays end and tackle, but he'll have a hard time making the roster this year. His age and the Lions' draft picks this year are now working against him.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Kyle VandenBosch: -11.3</div><div><br /></div><div>This is where things will get interesting. KVB had 8 sacks on the year but struggled in make an impact consistently. Will the Lions start him over Jackson based on seniority and pay grade? VandenBosch's leadership and work ethic may just keep him in the starting spot, but Jackson will once again eat heavily into his snaps. The Lions are going to have to decide if they want to pay a rotational player who struggled in all aspects of the game $5 million dollars annually.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Everette Brown: .4 (on 21 snaps)<br /><br />Brown played right end primarily, so if the Lions did release VandenBosch they would still have depth behind Jackson, not that I think that will happen. He'll have a hard time making the 53 man roster with the addition of Ronnell Lewis. <br /><br />Ronnell Lewis: Rookie<br /><br />Goodbye Andre Fluellen. Lewis will likely be mainly a special teams guy in his rook season, but I'm sure he'll see at least a handful of snaps especially in pass rushing situations.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Defensive Tackles:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nick Fairley: 6.6</div><div><br /></div><div>In his 236 snaps Fairley showed why Detroit made him their first round draft choice. If Fairley can stay healthy and out of trouble he'll have a big year. The Lions tried him out at DRT some but I imagine he'll continue to play primarily at DLT.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Ndamukong Suh: 3.3</div><div><br /></div><div>Suh experienced the gameplan effect and was consistently taken out of plays. That might sound like a bad thing, but when you are drawing double teams it allows someone else to make a play. Statistically Suh had a hot and cold season, but he was still a contributor and a workhorse putting in 839 snaps. A full offseason should do him some good. If he can step up his game even a little it will pay big dividends on the field.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Sammie Lee Hill: 2.5</div><div><br /></div><div>It will be interesting to see whether or not SLH gets the starting nod over Corey Wiliams. Hill isn't as explosive as Williams, but he is more consistent. This is a contract year for Hill.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Andre Fluellen: -3.8</div><div><br /></div><div>Once again Fluellen failed to make an impact on a consistent basis.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Corey Williams: -4.4</div><div><br /></div><div>Williams will be 32 in August. He's still a quality player, but the Lions have $5 million tied up in him. The biggest concern is after the Lions bye-week in 2011 his play really dropped off. Hill is younger and ready to step into the starting line up. Once again, are the Lions willing to pay $5 million to a rotational player?</div><div><br /><br />Fortunately for the Lions this is a good problem. Competition in camp should be intense and regardless of how the depth chart looks the Lions will once again field a dominant defensive line.<br /><br />What do you think the Lions' defensive line will look like in 2012?<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110535204985690770noreply@blogger.com0